B-SLR Methodological Template

Word limits in academic journals can pose challenges when reporting the full methodological details required for various methods and frameworks, including the B-SLR. To support researchers in crafting clear and concise methods sections, we propose a streamlined template to guide the structuring of methodology sections in B-SLR-based papers.
Below, we present a methodological template aligned with the key stages outlined in the B-SLR workflow. This template is intended for researchers to customize with their specific contextual information, such as the inclusion of key definitions for criteria, the number of clusters identified, and the final number of papers selected for each cluster, which can be incorporated as necessary and are marked in green italicised.

The present study applies the Bibliometric-Systematic Literature Review (B-SLR) framework (Marzi et al., 2025). As a first step, on (insert here the date of the first scrutinisation as per step one of B-SLR guide) we scrutinised the literature on (insert here the topic) to build an overview of the research stream and implement a set of the representative keywords for database research. 

Following the B-SLR framework, we delineate our inclusion/exclusion criteria before approaching the data collection process. To do so, we leveraged a comprehensive set of key definitions in the field of inquiry (insert here the references of the papers used to define the inclusion criteria - the first step of the B-SLR guide). 

As a result, we defined the search query as follows: (insert here the complete search query). On (date of when the query has been run in the first instance), we ran the search query in (insert the name of the adopted database - step three of the B-SLR) database, limiting the documents to the ones published in the English language, the document type to (type of included documents - step four of the B-SLR) published between (time span - step fours of the B-SLR). We extracted a raw database of (number of documents extracted - step five of the B-SLR), cross-validating the outcomes of our search with (insert the name of the database(s) for cross-check(s) - step four of the B-SLR guide), removing duplicates and ineligible documents. 

From the raw database, we removed studies not falling within the boundaries of our selected topic, consistent with our inclusion/exclusion criteria. The authors have carried out this process independently, checking their agreement with Krippendorff's Alpha yielding a value of (insert here the Krippendorff's Alpha value that can be obtained with K-Alpha Calculator available at https://www.k-alpha.org/ with documentation) (Marzi et al., 2024).  This has resulted in a final dataset of (insert the number of documents - step five of the B-SLR) documents. 

Next, we moved to bibliometric analysis in VOSviewer (insert the version of the software) (van Eck & Waltman, 2010), adopting (insert the aggregation criterion - step six of the B-SLR) as the aggregation criterion.

After independently reading the extracted documents, we identified the key research topic within each cluster. Once a satisfactory level of agreement among authors was reached (resolution=(insert the number here - step seven of the B-SLR)); minimum cluster size=(insert the number here - step seven of the B-SLR  guide)). We assessed and ranked the documents based on (report here the assessment and ranking criteria  - step eight of the B-SLR). We selected a representative sub-sample of documents based on (report here the selection criteria  - step eight of the B-SLR. If all the documents have been included, skip this passage).

Next, the clusters have been reviewed, following the prescriptions of systematic literature reviews by mapping the state of knowledge and grasping the content of the literature. The theorising perimeter has been established through (report the approach(es) used for setting the theorising perimeter and the motivation for the choice - see step ten of the B-SLR), providing further insights on the topic under exploration, thus developing an original conceptual advancement to the field.

References cited in the B-SLR Methodological Template

Marzi, G., Balzano, M., Caputo, A., & Pellegrini, M. M. (2025). Guidelines for bibliometric-systematic literature reviews: 10 steps to combine analysis, synthesis, and theory development. International Journal of Management Reviews, 27(1), 81–103. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12381 

Marzi, G., Balzano, M., & Marchiori, D. (2024). K-Alpha Calculator–Krippendorff's Alpha Calculator: A user-friendly tool for computing Krippendorff's Alpha inter-rater reliability coefficient. MethodsX, 12, 102545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2023.102545

van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2010). Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics, 84(2), 523-538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3